On the reasons for the failure of the reform movement of 1898

Modern Chinese history is not only a history of blood and tears, but also a history of resistance. The reform movement of 1898 was another attempt made by the bourgeois reformers after the failure of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement and the Westernization Movement. The bourgeois road of improvement was adopted, but the result was failure. Let me talk about the reasons for the failure of the reform movement of 1898.

The reform movement of 1898, also known as the hundred day reform, the reform movement of 1898 and the reform reform reform, was a short-lived political reform movement during the twenty-four years of Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (June 11-september 21, 1898).

The reasons for the failure of the reform movement of 1898 are as follows:

I. objective reasons

① the root cause of failure - the weak strength of the national bourgeoisie ② the stubborn feudal forces are too strong ③ relying on Emperor Guangxu without real power ④ divorced from the broad masses of the people ⑤ the direct cause of failure - Yuan Shikai's informant

The radical and radical changes of Emperor Guangxu and several scholars offended the whole upper class, including intellectuals, abolished the imperial examination and blocked the promotion of some intellectuals. Japan is a steady reform;

2. The reform movement of 1898 and the new deal of Empress Dowager Cixi were destroyed by foreigners. The reform of Japan was supported by foreigners;

  3. The reformers rely on the emperor without real power and lack the support of central and local officials and the people. The imperialists and the diehard feudal forces headed by Empress Dowager Cixi are strong, and the reformers representing the Democratic bourgeoisie are weak and unable to compete with them. In addition, the bourgeoisie is weak and divorced from the masses.

II; Subjective reasons

①: the reformers lack experience in political struggle ② Kang Youwei's personal psychological quality is immature ③ mistakes in the guiding ideology of the reform ④ mistakes in Tan Si's personal thought ⑤ serious mistakes in the political strategy of the reformers

The leader of this reform is the bourgeois reformers (the insufficient development of capitalism leads to the weakness and compromise of this class, which is specifically manifested in) ① the forces are too weak, while the stubborn forces are very strong; ② Lack of strong organizational leadership, relying on an emperor without real power; ③ The reformers have no power and cannot mobilize the broad masses of the people; ④ Have unrealistic illusions about imperialist powers.

The significance of the reform movement of 1898:

The reform movement of 1898 was an event of great significance in modern Chinese history. ① the reform movement of 1898 was a bourgeois reform movement and a preliminary attempt by the bourgeoisie to change the social system. The reformers tried to establish a bourgeois constitutional monarchy politically. The economic development of national capitalism is in line with the historical development trend. ② It was a patriotic national salvation_ Sports. At a time when the national crisis is intensifying, the reformers have carried out extensive publicity and encouragement with the goal of reform and strengthening the country and saving the nation from subjugation and survival. They hope that through reform, China will move towards independence, democracy and prosperity, so as to get rid of the aggression of imperialist powers, show strong patriotic enthusiasm and stimulate the people's patriotic thought and national consciousness. ③ The reform movement of 1898 was also a liberation of the ideological trend in modern China. The bourgeois reformers advocated new learning, advocated the rejuvenation of civil rights, fiercely attacked feudal thought, opened the way for the vigorous rise of the ideological enlightenment in modern thought, and promoted the awakening of the Chinese people. Many legacies left by the reform movement, such as emancipating the mind, changing ideas, establishing associations, setting up schools, establishing newspapers and periodicals, advocating women's schools, changing customs and so on. It has become a valuable asset in the history of the development of Chinese civilization. The reform movement of 1898 was also an ideological enlightenment. The reformers advocated new learning, criticized the old learning, and focused on the promotion of "rejuvenating civil rights", which greatly improved the democratic consciousness and political participation consciousness of the whole society. Since then, democracy has become a surging social trend of thought, which has greatly changed the face of China's ideological and cultural circles. He said that China's bourgeois new culture was also initially established during the reform movement of 1898 and later years. The bourgeois new academic, philosophy, history, economics and literary theory have sprouted, and "Poetry Revolution", "style revolution", "Novel Revolution" and "drama improvement" have emerged one after another. The bourgeois new culture, both in content and form, began to become the mainstream of modern Chinese culture.